Growing Generational Family Business Program

We are thrilled to share with you a new program for family businesses at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business called the Growing Generational Family Business Program. 

A collaborative endeavor between Pacific Family Business Institute and University of Washington's Foster School of Business, this curriculum will develop the skills needed for peak operative efficiency, plan for generational succession and growth, and help your family business reach its fullest potential.

Hear Dean Frank Hodge, Dean Jean Choy, and other experts at University of Washington’s Foster School of Business discuss the objectives and benefits of the program.

We worked closely with Jean Choy, Associate Dean in charge of Executive Education and International Initiatives at the Foster School of Business, to collaborate and develop this program.

As head of learning and development, Dean Choy has nearly 30 years of experience helping organizations from all over the world with growth strategies by developing their leadership bench strengths.

Why our program?

There are other reputable university-based programs throughout the nation for family businesses, but key factors that make this program unique include:

  • A hybrid model that includes both in-person and remote learning to reduce the cost, but also maximizes a close-knit cohort to support and encourage one another, long after the program ends.

  • Flexibility to have other key family business members to join up to three virtual class sessions at no additional cost. We want to encourage collaboration among the key business members and mitigate any obstacles.

  • Collaboration with the Pacific Family Business Institute (PFBI). PFBI is a trusted organization that has served family businesses since 2010 and helped countless families with transitions, preparing next-generation leaders, developing governance systems, and evaluating boards.

According to PwC’s Global Next Gen Survey, which surveys members of family businesses, global threats have united the generations around a common goal: driving growth to secure the stability of the business and the family. It shares that “business as usual isn’t an option in a world characterized by economic disruption, pervasive uncertainty and climate change.”

This comprehensive program is designed for succession planning, generational transitions, and growth strategies in response to the changing global economy.

This program will help you to:

  • Improve generational conversations about the family and its business.

  • Examine and clearly state goals and purposes with a unified vision to shape both short-term and long-term strategic plans.

  • Identify common pain points and gain tools to address these challenges within the context of family business enterprise.

  • Foster a healthy family dynamic by learning to develop and improve your emotional intelligence to effectively address common issues that could derail the vision, alignment, communications, and trust.

  • Adopt a perspective on how to better humanity through business.

  • Create a roadmap to implement an impactful change within the enterprise and report out on follow through.

Where, when, and how much?

The program is separated into 2 modules which can be taken independently or together, depending on your educational needs and the needs of your company.

Deadlines, tuition, and discounts

  • Tuition includes instruction, materials, meals, and parking on campus during the in-person sessions.

  • Any potential travel expenses are not included.

  • Applications are received and reviewed on a rolling basis. You will receive notification of admissions within two weeks of your application.

UW ALUM DISCOUNT: A 10% discount for alumni of UW or UW Executive Education. GROUP DISCOUNT: A 15% discount is available for organizations sending three or more participants to the program together.

To take advantage of this discount, please contact us at execed@uw.edu.

Discounts are not combinable.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Include an updated copy of your resume with your completed application.

PARTICIPANT CRITERIA

  • Type and number of years of experience: Participants should be owners, shareholders, employees, or board members of a family business with at least three years of experience in the business.

  • Current position and future prospects: Participants should have strong potential for both continued professional growth and contribution to the overall mission of their company through knowledge-based development.

  • English language ability: All classes and written materials will be presented in English. Participants are expected to engage actively in classroom discussions, study group sessions, and present oral reports in English.

For further detailed information on the program, please click here.

Click here to RSVP for our introductory information session!

We will be holding an online info session on February 1st, 2023 at 12:30-1:30pm PST.
Submit your RSVP today!

For any questions you may have on this program, please contact Jean Choy at jchoy@uw.edu or join the Foster School’s mailing list for updates.